KEVIN Parker, as a resident, is quite right to question the waste of money on a Monolith.

I have no doubt that something similar could have been cast in concrete, the legend inscribed while still wet, for a fraction of £16,000.

It seems that Trafford Council live in a parallel world Altrincham that we ordinary mortals do not share.

In the real Altrincham, we have the main road being dug up for no apparent reason.

The main road offered two opportunities for alteration, firstly when the hospital was rebuilt, and secondly when the Interchange was rebuilt.

Either of those projects gave an opportunity to close the road completely and make whatever changes were necessary.

It is a clear case of lack of forward planning. Obviously the continual work on the main road is providing employment for whoever is carrying out the work.

The 'Councilspeak' spokesman, who states that the redevelopment has been welcomed by residents and businesses, must live in the parallel Altrincham as for 'many new businesses',who,what and where?

If council funding is to be provided from business rates, how is that going to encourage businesses to start in the town? One of the reasons that businesses have closed down is because high rates and rents fail to make it worthwhile.

With a diminishing number of businesses, it will be necessary, on the logic of this spokesman, to increase the rates on the remaining businesses.

This is effectively 'The Law of Diminishing Returns'.

If the council funding, then, coming from businesses drops,we will either face more cuts, or have to have an increase in domestic rates. The whole problem stems from having a bunch of amateurs running the finances of a town.

David Olliver, Altrincham